the buzz log

It's one of the must-see places in the world. A romantic site for lovers. And an iconic image of Paris. But as the Eiffel Tower celebrates its 120th anniversary, it may come as a surprise that this symbol of Paris wasn't always so beloved. Here's the back story.

Erected for the Paris Exposition of 1889, Alexandre Gustave Eiffel's creation resembled a sort of futuristic pyramid of iron pillars. The structural engineer designed it to show how buildings can withstand wind shear — the tower was actually created to celebrate modern scientific breakthroughs. (The guy was a wiz on aerodynamics and literally wrote the book on "The Resistance of the Air.")

But not everyone was convinced of the building's charms. A petition signed by 300 artists, including Guy de Maupassant and Émile Zola, protested "…In the name of French taste and endangered French art and history, against the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower." Le Ouch. Thankfully, not all Parisians agreed, and because the structure actually did serve a purpose — it is topped with an antenna — it was saved from destruction when its 20-year lease on the land ran out. The tower now stands — antenna and all — as a proud symbol of Paris.

One-day searches on the Web for the Paris icon soared 100%. Francophiles also queried "eiffel tower history," "eiffel tower pictures," and "eiffel tower collectibles."

Some fun facts: The tower was the tallest building in the world until the construction of New York City's Chrysler Building in 1930. It weighs 7,300 tons and tired tourists will confirm the 1,665 steps to the top.

For the next three months, the "iron lady" will light up with a special 12-minute show. We know, we know. We're packing our bags.

Filed under: Architecture, Anniversaries